Bowling alley



R E D Y N S a H.

BOWLING ALLEY 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 25, 1946 YHaJizsonG. .Suf/del.

INVENTOR.

H. G. SNYDER Nw, 21, 195o BOWLING ALLEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1946 Haiwzz, G ZW 2, 1950 H. G. sNYDER 2,531,1l68

BOWLING ALLEY Filed 0G13. 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JN V EN TOR.

Filed oct. 194e H. G. SNYDER BOWLING ALLEY 5 SheebS-Shee'b 4 Nov. 2'1, 1950 H. G. sNYDER 2,531,158

BOWLING ALLEY Filed oct. 25, 194s 5 sheets-sheet s 1N VEN TOR.

HfllzsozLG. gwden Patented Nov. 21, 195@ UNITED STATES PA'TENT-OFFICE BOWLING ALLEY Hanson G. Snyder, Newtown Square, Pa.

Application October 23, 1946, Serial No. 704,999

1 Claim. I

My present invention relates to bowling alleys and the like, and more particularly to outdoor bowling alleys.

Bowling has never been popular as an out of doors game. This has been chiefly due to the constructions of outdoor bowling alleys, which either deteriorate when exposed to outside weather conditions or if they are made of weather resistant materials, such alleys do not provide for satisfactory bowling. For example, heretofore to construct out of doors bowling alleys, a concrete, stone or slate surface of weather resisting properties has been found impractical for modern .K

bowling; because when the ball is put into play and Adrops on to such hard rolling surface, the standard plastic bowling ball will bounce and chip, making accuracy more and more impossible with each use of the ball. Also, when a softer material, such as asphalt or an asphalt mix is used, a hot sun will soften the bowling deck or rolling surface and soon this surface becomes so marred and full of indentations from the bowling balls that accurate and scientic bowling on this material is impossible. Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a novel weather resisting out of doors bowling alley, having a durable and rugged bowling surface which is comparable with the performance of a modern indoor bowling alley in. every'respect.

Another object is torprovide a Weatherproof playing surface suitable for aV modern bowling ball, which surface is not only weatherproof but smooth, hard and polishable like the wooden surfaces of indoor alleysVand sufficiently shock absorbent and resilient to permit a standard plastic bowling ball to be used with the same satisfaction and accuracy as on a modern indoor bowling alley surface.

A further object is to provide a permanent, weatherproof structure for outdoor modern bowling comprised of an integrally constructed rolling bed, and a plurality of precast reinforced auxiliary members, such as a ball return track and the walls which define the sides of the pin pit.

A still further object is to provide in an out of doors weatherproof structure for a modern bowling alley, a novel drain system for efficiently carrying off water after rain storms.

In addition to the foregoing and other objects, an advantage of my invention which will appear from the following detailed description is the provision of a novel arrangement and equipment for quicklyand accurately spotting pins. This arrangement forms the subject matter of my companion application Serial No. 705,000, filed concurrently herewith.

Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated one practical embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal cross section view of my invention, along the center line of the bowling deck showing the ten pin end and pit construction.`

Fig. la is a partial longitudinal cross section view showing the approach end of the bowling deck.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the bowling deck at the ten pin end and illustrates the pit and backstop cushion arrangement.

Figure 2a is a top plan view of the approach end of the bowling deck.

Figure 3 is a left side elevational view of the device at the ten pin end of the bowling deck.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the several layers of materials which form the bowling deck.

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings and particularly Figs. 1 and 1a, my novel bowling alley comprises a bowling deck A, an approach deck or surface B, a pit C and a back stop D.

The bowling deck and approach deck may be constructed in the same manner and of the same material, and accordingly a description in detail of the bowling deck only is necessary. This bowling deck (see Figures 4, 5 and 6) comprises a ground trench T of the required depth, width, and length, into which is placed, rst, a foundation layer of gravel or crushed stone l0, next a layer of cinders Il, then, a layer of reinforced concrete l2, and, lastly, a top surface layer of laminated plastic compound I4; although, if preferred, the foundation may be laid upon the ground direct. The concrete I2 is leveled substantially at the ground line and is reinforced with steel cross bars I5 and the plastic compound for the top layer I4 may be made of any of several synthetic resin compounds, such as phenolic, vinyl, acrylic, cellulose acetate, butyrate resin or the like. These plastic compounds may be in laminated sheets and bonded together with suitable adhesives, and are chosen as they are weatherproof, impervious to water and are shock absorbing.

On each side of the plastic covered bowling deck A are ball troughs I6 and I1. These ball troughs are preferably formed or cast in the concrete layer I2 and terminate in the pit C at the end of the deck, and may be covered with a layer of plastic compound like deck A.

The pit C may be concrete and has its bottom surface covered with a fabricated rubber mat. On one side of the pit bottom is mounted a precast concrete side wall I8, having an inner surface coating of rubber or plastic compound. The wall I8 has downwardly extending bars 20,*which extend into.' openingsI along the edge face'ofth'e -pit to thereby vertically support the side wall. End to end with the side wall I8 is another pre-cast side wall 22 which is similarly mounted on bars 24. On the opposite side of the pit C is mounted another side wall 26, which is abutted against the end of an elevated wall section 28 that is positioned on the bowling deck AV 'at' the rearfend of a side wall 2T into which it merges; the walls 26 and 28 being of equal height and supporting the elevated rear endI portion of the ball return track 25.` The wall 2b' terminates, short ofja back-stop D, extending across the rear end of thepit C', to provide an entran'ceand exitito andfrom the pit. From the merging end.V of the wall 28, the side wall 21 continues at a substantially uniform height toward the front end of the bowling deck A, fro'mwhere 'it slopes upwardto a higher level toform wall 28. The wall 28 has a top level surface for the end of the ball return track 25 and has secured toits end an upright block 29, by embedded bolts 30. The block 29 hasv secured to it, by a bolt 3|, over the end of the track 25, a rubber ball stop 32. AOn each side of the pit surface are mounted vertical steel `supports 33 and 36, each having an aligned opening in its top end 35 to secure 'therein an elongated rod136 to which is pivoted the fabricated rubber back stop D. Each wall 2G, 2T and 28 is secured to the bowling deck by vertical bars 26a, 21a, and 28a, respectively.

Directly in front of `the pit C l is a ledge 39 formed by the end ofthe concrete layer I2. This ledge 39 supports a wooden beam 49 to which is bolted a pin supporting plate 4I; however, as this .is the subject matter of another patent 'application, no detailed description of this renewable Wooden block and the novel pinvv plate. and pin pedestal' spot mounts is 'given herein. As generally shown the pedestal spot'mounts 42 are exposed through "the'top plastic layer 'of the bowling deck.

Thus I have provided anou'tdoor weatherproof structure for b.owling','which makes'it possible to bowl out. of' doors as satisfactorily and accurately as on an indoor alley. Also, my improved permanent structure is more rugged and durable, equally asfdesirable to bowl upon as an indoor structure, and while described as an outdoor structure can be used for indoor bowling if desired.

While only one embodiment of my invention is illustrated, further modification will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An outdoor bowling valley', including a ground trench of required depth width and length, comprising a foundation formed of a bottom layer of gravel or the like leveled within the trench, a leveled layer of cinders superimposed upon the layer of gravel, a leveled layer of reinforced concrete superimposed upon the layer of cinders, the top surface of the concrete being substantially level with the ground surface, gutters formed in the top surface of the concrete and inwardly ol the opposite side edges thereof, a laminated plastic layer bonded to the top surface of said fou-ndation between said gutters, a wall rising from the top surface of said foundation at the outer side of one ofv said gutters, a pit formed at the rear end-of said foundation by a reduction in the thicknessof the concrete layer, the height of' said side wall being increased -at the' opposite ends thereof, a second side wall rising from the rear end of said foundation opposite the, rear end of said one sidewall, another side wall. rising from said pit in line with said secondl wall, the last named side walls' being/of equal height and correspondinglyy with respect, to the'height' of the rear end of saidone sidewall, a transverse wall'of a slightly greater height `than that' of the last namedsaid walls at' the 'rear enclV of'said pit, said one side wall terminating` short of said transverse wall to provide an entrance'to said lpit between the same, and a ball return track mounted4 upon and coextensive with'said one side wall.

HANSON G.'SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The fol-lowing references are ofv recordv in the file of this patenti" 'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,145,803 Schlossberg 1 July 6, 1915 1,270,359 Zarling June 25, 1918v 1,805,267 Treiberl May 12,1931 1,962,899 Hagy June 12,1934 1,965,055 Purnell 2 1; July 3, 1934 1,976,932 Forsberg ,r Qct. 116,193.4 2,203,458 Federer June 4, 194:0 2,301,777 Gremp et al Nov. 10,A 1942 2,329,963 Whittle Sept'. 21, 1943 

